Coronation Street icon Denise Black is set to join the cast of Waterloo Road. The 67 year old actress is renowned for her role as hairdresser Denise Osbourne on ITV’s flagship soap, particularly remembered for her relationship with Ken Barlow (William Roache) in the 90s.

Denise first graced the cobbles from 1992 until 1997. Her romance with Ken led to the birth of their son Daniel Osbourne, but it all came crashing down when she was revealed to be having an affair with Brian Dunkley (Benny Young), leading to her disappearance from the ITV hit soap for a decade.

In 2007, Denise briefly returned to reintroduce Ken to Daniel after his adopted daughter Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) was jailed for the murder of Charlie Stubbs. She attempted to rekindle their romance, but Ken chose to return to Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), and it would be nearly another decade before she made another appearance.

In 2016, Daniel, now portrayed by Rob Mallard, reappeared after his father suffered a stroke and has been a mainstay on the show ever since. Denise also returned alongside him and was last seen offering her condolences to Ken over Deirdre’s death.

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After her various roles on Coronation Street, Denise Black moved to Emmerdale, another ITV soap, where she portrayed Joanie Dingle, the adoptive grandmother of Amy Wyatt’s son Kyle from 2013 until 2017.

Her character had a tumultuous storyline, involving an affair with Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell), a subsequent marriage, and a tragic end when Joanie died of a heart attack in January 2017, reports the Mirror.

However, Denise has now traded the world of soaps for drama, joining the cast of the BBC’s flagship school series, Waterloo Road, which made a comeback in 2023 after nearly ten years off air. In the sixth episode of the current series, Denise takes on the role of Mo McManus, the grandmother of Liam Scholes’ character Noel McManus.

The episode features intense scenes as Mo McManus finds herself embroiled in a police confrontation.

Waterloo Road first graced our screens on the BBC in 2007, and has been instrumental in launching the television careers of several actors including Hollyoaks actress Chelsee Healey, former Strictly Come Dancing star Adam Thomas, and Katie McGlynn, among others.

Big names like Louis Tomlinson, Jodie Comer and Jack O’Connell also kick-started their careers as students at the troubled Manchester comprehensive school before achieving international fame.

Throughout its initial nine series, the show tackled challenging subjects including teen pregnancy, murder and substance abuse, boasting an impressive ensemble of television favourites, including former EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny as drama teacher Izzie Redpath, Loose Women regular Denise Welch as bumbling French teacher Steph Haydock and Silent Witness actress Amanda Burton as headmistress Karen Fisher.

The programme was brought back in 2023 following strong streaming figures for the original run, though producers have now confessed the revival has exceeded every expectation.

Executive producer Cameron Roach revealed: “When the BBC commissioned the reboot of we had hoped it might run for a few seasons.

“To be commissioned for further series, bringing the total episodes since relaunch to seventy hours, is a huge achievement and a reflection of the incredible creative teams in front of and behind the camera.

“As well as continuing to celebrate emerging talent, the show is fast gaining a reputation for working with the best comedy talent, as Jon Richardson joins the cast this season.

“As a team we’re incredibly proud that a very British show can be such an enduring success for the BBC and continue to bring in new generations of viewers.”

Coronation Street continues tonight at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.